Abbott's Lobster in the Rough

We had to have our summer lobster fix so what better place to go then Abbott's Lobster in the Rough in Noank where they specialize in it!

So I had the famous hot lobster roll [$13.95] which looks puny until you look  inside at all the big pieces of lobster sitting on the butter soaked toasted roll.  Plus I got the special of six oysters [$11.50] three from CT and three from RI but couldn't figure out which was which but liked one three better than the other three (that's really relevant info, right). Anyway, they were not the largest oysters I have ever eaten but fresh and sweet.

Everyone else had the hot lobster rolls too. Two had salad and the other had the steamers. The order of steamers was a very good size. 

bloginfo: menu and website here

blognote: we were reminiscing as to the best oysters we had ever eaten; his were in New Orleans and mine in Brittany

Taste of Hartford 2009 @J Restaurant | Bar

It was such a beautiful evening, we sat outside at J for Taste of Hartford in its extended week. This $20.09 can become habit forming!

Check out their website here.

From the menu we had:

Appetizers:

Spicy Calamari w/ Sweet Chili Sauce [this could well become my favorite way to eat calamari]

and

J Salad w/ Pears, candied pecans, gorgonzola cheese, dried cranberries and sweet-balsamic dressing

Entrées:

Oyster Po’ Boy w/ Buttermilk fried oysters, beef steak tomato,avocado Mayonnaise, baby arugula on a ciabatta roll [one diner said the ingredients of the sandwich took over and overshadowed the taste of the oysters]

and

Crispy Fried Golden Snapper w/ Tomato-cucumber salad, roasted wedge potatoes, tartar sauce

[this was deep batter fried not pan fried and bore a quick resemblance to a boring fish and chips]

Dessert:

Strawberry Shortcake w/ Buttermilk biscuit and whipped cream [diners said it was good especially the biscuit (mine is in the 'fridge for later)]

bloginfo: J Restaurant | Bar

297 Washington St., Hartford 527-7764

blognote: Our waitress was 'in training' and did a nice job; she is a natural. Some glitches though: no bread service, no spoons with coffee

GOAL

Goal restaurant has been my 'goal' for lunch the last month or so. I finally made it today after a meeting in Hartford. Good excuse to go out to lunch!

Started with the ubiquitous jumbo corn kernels and that addictive green sauce.

Then ordered the Arroz Chaufa de Carne [steak fried rice], I know, I know it sounds Chinese but the Peruvians do it so well. For $8.95 I had a big lunch and will have the rest for supper. I especially like the fresh scallions and diced fried egg. My kind of food [don't laugh].

bloginfo: Goal is located at 495 Franklin Avenue very close to the corner of Brown Street. Parking in front of the restaurant but I found a spot on the street.